Figure sign



J. N. KLEMA FIGURE SIGN Aug. 27, 1935;

Filed Feb. 27, 1954 an/UC n tOO JI/VZKZema mint/NM Patented Aug. 27, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a figure sign, and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide a sign of this kind wherein a part of a figure is movable together with means for imparting the desired movement to such part and thus attract attention to the sign.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sign of this kind comprising a plurality of movable parts together with means operating from a rotatable member for imparting desired movement to such parts.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved figure sign whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawii'ig, whereinz- Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a sign constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a view in rear elevation of the sign illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view in rear elevation of a sign constructed in accordance with another embodi- 35 merit of my invention, one of the disks being broken away to partially expose a second disk.

As illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, my improved sign comprises a board B of desired dimensions and which has produced on its outer or exposed surface a plurality of figures I illustrated in the accompanying drawing as of a comical type although these figures may be of any type or character preferred. Each of the figures I has a movable part 2 herein disclosed as in simulation of an arm of the figure and said movable part 2 is fixed to a shaft3 disposed through the board B and rotatably supported thereby. Each of the shafts 3 carries an angularly disposed arm 4 terminating in a lateral extension 5 disposed in the path of travel of an extension arm 6 carried by and rotating with a wheel 1. This wheel I is mounted upon a shaft 8 supported by the board B and an opposed wall 9 comprised in a housing H for the wheel I and the arms 4. The housing H has mounted upon its bottom ID a motor M of any type preferred but herein disclose.

. as electrical. This motor M is operatively connected with the wheel I which is in the character of a pulley by an endless belt ll although it is to be stated that the desired driving connection 5 with the member I may be as preferred.

It is also to be noted that the member 1 carries a plurality of arms extending in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the member I and which terminate in the outwardly dis- 10 posed extension arms 6 substantially radial to said axial center of the member 1. It is to be noted that such arms are so relatively offset with respect to each other and to the wheel as to travel in different planes. It is also to be noted that 15 each of the arms 6 is arranged forcoaction with a selected arm 4 as is particularly illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawing.

As the member or pulley I is rotated each of the arms 6 will intermittently engage a lateral exten- 2D sion 5 of an arm 4 with resultant movement of the associated part 2, the extent of such movement depending upon the length of contact of the arm 6 with an extension 5. This operation of the parts 2 results in an animated effect of the sign thereby directing attention thereto which would probably not otherwise occur if the sign was entirely still.

As is clearly illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing, the shafts 3 are of different lengths and carry rock arms 4 also of different lengths, said rock arms being each offset one with respect to the others so that the same has movement in a separate or individual path. The arms 6 carried by the member or pulley I are also of different lengths so that each of said arms 6 will have selective coaction with but one of the arms 4.

In the embodiment of my invention as illustrated in Figure 4, the portions of the shafts 3' disposed rearwardly of the board B each has fixed thereto the heel portion of a bell crank lever L. An arm l2 of two of the levers L has operatively engaged therewith the rods l4. One of these rods I4 is operatively connected, as at IS, with the outer face of a disk l6 while the second rod I4 is operatively connected to the outer face of a secc ond disk l6 fixed to the same shaft I! which carries the first mentioned disk IS. The shaft I1 is rotatably supported by a bearing structure I8 which offers no hindrance or obstruction to the desired rotation of the shaft I! which may be driven by a suitably positioned motor in driving connection directly with the shaft I! or with either of the disks [6.

The second arms I! of the levers L with which the rods H are engaged have operatively connected therewith the rods I4 which in turn are operatively engagedwith the arms l2 of additional bell crank levers. As illustrated in Figure 4, the arm 12 of one of said additional bell crank levers is operatively connected by a rod I4 with the the arm l2 of a further bell crank lever L.

As the shaft [1, or more particularly the disks I6, rotate, rocking movement will be transmitted to all of the bell crank levers L through the rods M, M and W- with, of course, the desired resultant swinging or rocking movement of the movable parts which are to be carried by the shafts 3' in co-operation with the outer surface of the board B.

a From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a figure sign constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spiritthereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:-

1. A sign comprising a board having a plurality of movable parts, mounting shafts for said parts carried by the board, bell crank levers, each of said levers having its heel portion fixed to one of the shafts, there being one lever to each shaft, the movable parts overlying one face of the board and the levers being at the opposite side of the board, rods connecting one arm of each lever with an arm of an adjacent lever, disks positioned adjacent to the board and at the same side thereof as the levers, a supporting shaft for said disks and rods operatively connecting the second arms of certain of the levers with the disks, the connection of the rods with the disks being at the outer sides of the disks.

2. A sign comprising a board having a plurality of movable parts, mounting shafts for said parts carried by the board, bell crank levers, each of said levers having its heel portion fixed to one o the shafts, there being one lever to each shaft, the movable parts overlying one face of the board and the levers being at the opposite side of the board, rods connecting one arm of each lever with an arm of an adjacent lever, a rotating element positioned adjacent to the board and at the same side thereof as the levers, and rods operatively connecting the second arms of certain of the levers with the rotatable element.

JOSEPH N. KLEMA. 

